Sleepwalking Disability

For our Disease course we decided to look more into mental disorders.The purpose of this project was to stimulate someone who does not have a mental disorder and put them in a person who does have a mental disorders shoes. For my project I decided to choose sleepwalking. Sleepwalking is a behavioral disorder where people perform activities such as walking around the house or even leaving their home while still sleeping. Sleepwalking is commonly found in kids rather than adults. Scientifically, sleepwalking is a behavior disorder that originates during deep sleep and results in walking or performing other complex behaviors while asleep, it is also  more likely to occur if a person is sleep deprived. Because a sleepwalker typically remains in deep sleep throughout the episode, he or she may be difficult to awaken and will probably not remember the sleepwalking incident. I decided to do this project on sleepwalking because, although it is a disorder people tend to brush it off as a phase, sleepwalking can also go into account of sleep terrors, or even harming someone all while unconscious.

A person who sleepwalks often has no memory of doing it, but Antonio Zarda, a blogger says that, ''There is a significant proportion of sleepwalkers who remember there sleepwalking, and say they have reasonable explanations for it''. Some cases of sleepwalking can be mild such as going to the kitchen and washing their hands to the other extreme such as actually committing a crime like murder. Some people don’t understand how severe sleepwalking can be because they haven't experienced it themselves. For someone who doesn't have sleepwalking disorder, or does not understand what it and feels like, I created a simulation just to get an idea of what it feels like. I think I would have to take things easily and show some empathy with sleepwalkers because they themselves are not aware of what they do therefore we cannot blame them. I know not to wake a sleepwalker because they can panic. Sleepwalking cases are almost not that  severe but you should always take precaution with a person who has it. Down below are my fliers, as well as my agenda!

Why? (GQ)	What does it feel like to sleepwalking ?	Time
How?	How will I guide my classmates to experience these feelings? At the end of this lesson, students will have: Role-played with a person simulating characteristics of sleepwalking Reflected on how they felt by drawing or writing a brief explanation Identified actions they can take to support a loved one, co-worker, or other person living with sleepwalking disorder	5
What? Agenda & Content	How will I guide my classmates to experience these feelings? Intro: I will first blindfold my classmates, and ask them to put in earplugs next I will spin them around a few times to feel out of place. Then I will ask them to go to a certain spot in the room where they have to get an object and accomplish it without looking although most sleepwalkers sleepwalk with their eyes open I want them to feel somewhat out of place to experience what it is like Simulation - Which criteria for this disorder needs to be highlighted? Confusion mumbled speech wandering Debrief Do’s and Don’ts -Don’t try and help guide or help the sleepwalker, we want them to feel out of place and confused.	5
Closure	Reflection (Writing) How might you respond differently to someone living with the disorder you studied? What will you do differently when you see sleepwalking occurring in others? How did it make you feel to lose two of your five senses?	3
Materials	Blindfolds Earbuds Paper Pens

_LINKS_____

http://www.behavioralconnections.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=589

http://girightshotline.org/en/military-knowledge-base/topic/other-designated-physical-and-mental-conditions-discharge

http://www.sleepmanagement.md/sleepdisorders/sleepwalking.aspx

Citations:

1."Sleep Disorder Symptoms - Sleepwalking Disorder - Sleep Disorders." Sleep Disorder Symptoms - .Sleepwalking Disorder - Sleep Disorders. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2015.

2."GI Rights Hotline." Atom. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2015.

3.

"Sleep Walking / Talking." Sleep Management. N.p., 20210. Web. 08 Mar. 2015.